Filming a Rocky movie in Philadelphia always turned heads, and Rocky II was no exception. The city was already synonymous with the Italian Stallion, and anytime cameras rolled, crowds gathered. One particular night in 1978, South Philly residents got wind that Sylvester Stallone would be filming near St. Thomas Aquinas Church at 17th and Morris. What they didn’t know? They were about to witness movie history—well, sort of.
One fan, Mike Smith from Pittsburgh, shared his firsthand account of the unforgettable night. He didn’t catch a glimpse of Sly, but he felt the energy in the air, knowing Rocky Balboa was just around the corner. Here’s his story:
”It was a normal night in 1978 South Philadelphia, save one thing: Rocky was coming.”
“Everyone converged in front of St. Thomas Aquinas church on the corner of 17th and Morris to see when and how Sylvester Stallone would arrive for the filming of a scene that would be shot for Rocky II. No one knew what the scene was going to be or exactly where the scene was going to be filmed, but everyone knew there was going to be filming.
“How they got off that scene where Father Carmine gave Rocky a blessing is beyond me, because I waited and waited for Rocky to arrive. I must have waited there for at least three hours. Then, yelling began in the crowd, and a limo flew by me. Everyone started shouting, “Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!”.
Stallone was the second famous person to fly past me in a limo. The other one was Pope John Paul II, who flew by doing about 90 miles per hour, so that was a blur, but I stayed from the time the sun set until a full moon that looked like the one from the “Honeymooners” was in full view to see Rocky Balboa. Despite that, I never did get to see any of the filming, nor did I get to see Rocky. It didn’t matter then, and it doesn’t matter now. I knew I was there, and I knew Rocky was there. That’s all that mattered then, and that’s all that matters now.”
Behind the Scenes: Filming Rocky and Adrian’s Wedding Scene
Mike’s memory is linked to one of Rocky II‘s most heartfelt moments—Rocky and Adrian’s wedding scene. The crowd gathered outside St. Thomas Aquinas Church, believing they’d catch a glimpse of Stallone filming. And while the exterior shots were indeed filmed at this South Philly Catholic church, there’s a twist—the interior scene was shot somewhere else entirely.
For the actual wedding sequence, the production team used a different church interior, a common Hollywood trick to make logistics easier. But the moment itself remains memorable, as Father Carmine, played by Paul Micale, blesses the newlyweds in a scene that brings full-circle the bond between Rocky and his faith.
Who Was Father Carmine in Rocky?
Father Carmine is a small but memorable character in the Rocky series. He’s the priest who gives Rocky his famous blessing before fights, starting in Rocky II and later reprising the role in Rocky V.
Actor Paul Micale brought Father Carmine to life, but his career stretched far beyond the Rocky franchise. Micale appeared in numerous popular television series throughout the 1970s and 80s, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Barnaby Jones, Trapper John, M.D., The Incredible Hulk, and Laverne & Shirley. Despite his extensive TV work, Rocky V ended up being his final role. Just nine years after filming wrapped, Micale passed away at age 83, leaving behind a legacy as the man who gave Rocky Balboa his blessing.
While Mike Smith didn’t get to witness the filming firsthand, he got something even better—a story of being there the night Rocky came back to South Philly. And for any true fan, knowing you were part of Rocky history is just as good as seeing it unfold on screen.
